This Olive tree in Montenegro is older than Christ

In 2015, the olive tree's samples were sent to Istanbul University for analysis. They estimated that its main stem to be around 2,240 years old at the time.

Stari Bar: Amid the ongoing deforestation and urbanization around the world, an olive tree 'Stara Maslina' in Stari Bar town of Montenegro is serving people for over 2,244 years.

The olive tree is a tourist attraction and a protected natural site, not because of its size, but because of its age.

Head of Olive Breeders, Cazim Alkovic said that in 2015, its samples were sent to Istanbul University for analysis. They estimated the tree's main stem to be around 2,240 years old at the time.

Alkovic said, "We got the results and it was confirmed that this olive is the oldest in our area, that it is the oldest among those that were tested and that, according to those estimates, it is today 2,244 years old."

The olive tree has been a sacred place for the town over the centuries and people had been gathering around for mourning and celebrating under its weary and old branches.

A vow is passed to young residents that they must not pick a leaf or do anything else because their family will be cursed.

Visitors admire the 10-metre wide tree and its interwoven, knotted branches.Locals said that the olive tree was once privately-owned. Its owner refused to sell it to Italian occupiers during the Second World War, who wanted to dig it up and transport it to Italy.Instead, in 1957, post-war authorities put the tree under state protection and let an olive oil producing company take charge.In 2003, the municipal authorities decided that Primorka (company) can no longer own the old olive and they handed it over to the Bar cultural centre.A local resident Milovic claims that the olive tree has helped in bringing peace among many Montenegro families over the centuries.The patriarchal Balkan country is known for bloody family feuds that have left their mark on generations of its residents.In 2016, Britain's Prince Charles was gifted a bottle of the precious olive oil during a trip to Montenegro."We produced olive oil solely from this olive tree, from a tree that is significantly older than Christ, 2,244 years (old), and we produced oil, we got food," said Alkovic, head of Olive Breeders.